calc.funmagi.com · free money calculators

Debt Snowball Calculator (vs Avalanche)

List up to four debts and an extra monthly payment. See your debt-free date and total interest with the snowball and avalanche methods side by side.

By TanLabs · Formulas cross-checked against the free spreadsheet · Updated 2026-10-31 · Runs in your browser – nothing you type is sent anywhere

Debt 1 balance$Debt 1 APR%Debt 1 minimum$Debt 2 balance$Debt 2 APR%Debt 2 minimum$Debt 3 balance$Debt 3 APR%Debt 3 minimum$Debt 4 balance$Debt 4 APR%Debt 4 minimum$Extra per month$

📥 Download the free Excel / Google Sheets version (same formulas, no sign-up).
Want the full system? Debt Payoff Planner – Snowball vs Avalanche – $9

How to use this calculator

Enter each debt's balance, APR and required minimum payment (up to four). Leave unused rows at 0.
Enter the extra amount you can add every month on top of all minimums.
Compare the two plans: snowball pays the smallest balance first, avalanche pays the highest APR first.
Read the payoff month for each debt in the table, then pick the plan you will actually stick to.

Worked example

With debt 1 balance $1,500, debt 1 APR 8%, debt 1 minimum $50, debt 2 balance $4,500, debt 2 APR 18%, debt 2 minimum $90, debt 3 balance $9,000, debt 3 APR 24%, debt 3 minimum $200, extra per month $150:

Snowball: 46 months, interest $7,442
Avalanche: 44 months, interest $6,342 · Difference $1,099

Change any number above – the result, chart and table update instantly. Use Copy link to save or share your exact scenario.

How it's calculated

Every month all minimums are paid; the extra money (plus minimums freed from paid-off debts) goes to the smallest balance (snowball) or the highest APR (avalanche).

What the extra payment is worth

The default three debts ($15,000 total) with different extra payments:

Extra per month	Snowball: time · interest	Avalanche: time · interest	Avalanche saves
$0	90 mo · $15,277	88 mo · $14,805	$472
$100	55 mo · $8,971	52 mo · $7,773	$1,197
$150	46 mo · $7,442	44 mo · $6,342	$1,099
$300	32 mo · $4,958	30 mo · $4,115	$843
$500	22 mo · $3,459	22 mo · $2,840	$619

The extra monthly amount matters more than the method. Moving from $0 to $300 extra cuts years off both plans; the gap between snowball and avalanche is usually smaller than that.

Common mistakes

Stopping minimums on the other debts. Always pay every minimum; only the extra goes to the target debt.
Not rolling payments over. When a debt is paid off, add its minimum to the next one. That rollover is what makes the snowball grow.
Taking on new debt. New card balances undo the plan. Close or freeze cards you are paying off if that helps.
Ignoring 0% promos. A 0% balance that jumps to 25% later should move up the list before the promo ends.

FAQ

Which method is better?

Avalanche always costs the same or less interest. Snowball gives quicker wins, which helps many people stick with it.

What if my extra payment is $0?

Both methods then just pay minimums; freed-up minimums still roll over.

Does it handle new charges?

No – stop adding to the debts for the plan to hold.

Can I mix both methods?

Yes. Many people clear one or two tiny balances first for momentum, then switch to the highest APR.

Is debt consolidation better?

A consolidation loan helps if its rate is lower than your average APR and you stop using the cards. Compare the total interest here with the loan offer.

Should mortgages be included?

Usually not. Snowball and avalanche plans are meant for consumer debt; the mortgage is typically left on its normal schedule.

Related calculators

Credit Card Payoff Calculator
Find out how many months it takes to pay off a credit card, how much interest you will pay…50/30/20 Budget Calculator
Split your take-home pay into needs, wants and savings using the 50/30/20 rule – and chang…Net Worth Calculator
Add up what you own and what you owe to get your net worth – the single number that shows …